July 13, 2017; Al Jazeera reported that an influential US Republican senator has criticised the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, over a blockade on Qatar by the kingdom and three other Arab states.

The comments by Bob Corker, chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, came as tensions in the region continue over the crisis, with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson expected to make an unscheduled stop in Doha.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar on June 5 and imposed a land, air and sea blockade on the country.

The quartet accuse Qatar of funding “terrorism”, an accusation Qatar rejected as “baseless”.

Corker added that he was “really disappointed to see what Saudi Arabia did after having a great summit and bringing everybody together”, referring to May’s Riyadh conference that saw leaders of the GCC and other Arab states meet with US President Donald Trump.

The South African economy moved into recession with the reported decrease of 0,7% in GDP during the first quarter of 2017, following a 0,3% contraction in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Using the widely accepted measure of ‘recession’ as two (or more) consecutive quarters of negative growth (real GDP quarter-on-quarter), this means that South Africa has experienced eight economic recessions since 1961, the longest occurring in 1991–1992, mainly as result of a global economic downturn.

In 2008–2009 there was a recession over three quarters when the country became caught up in the global financial crisis.

In the first quarter of 2017, both the secondary and tertiary sectors recorded negative growth rates. The trade and manufacturing industries were the major heavyweights that stifled production, with trade falling by 5,9% and manufacturing by 3,7%.

On the positive side, the agriculture and mining industries both contributed positively to growth in the first quarter, but not enough to avoid recession.

The incumbent, Mnyimba, assumed his duties on June 1, 2017. The position became vacant following the depature of the previous incumbent, Mr. Chris Magwangqana, who’s contract ended on May 31, 2017.

ADM council endorsed Mnyimba’s appointment at a Special Council Meeting held May 19, 2017, at the Calgary Council chambers.

Mnyimba’s qualifications include a bachelor of commerce degree and an honours degree in Business Management from Vista University, a certificate in Municipal Finance Management from Fort Hare University and a certificate in a Municipal Development Programme from Stellenbosch University and his experience in local government spans 13 years, 7 of which he served as Municipal Manager.

Welcoming Mnyimba, ADM Executive Mayor, Cllr. Nomfusi Winnie Nxawe said; “On behalf of the ADM council, I wish to extend warm welcome to you Mnguni and to wish you well in your new position. As this council, we assure you of our continued support in ensuring that you steer this ship to greater heights”.

Mnyimba’s accolades include achieving an unqualified audit opinion from a disclaimer during his 4 year tenure at the helm of Ikhwezi Local Municipality, under Sara Baartman District according to a statement from the municipality.

“I FBI director [James Comey] am writing to inform you that the investigative team briefed me on this yesterday, and I agreed that the FBI should take appropriate investigative steps designed to allow investigators to review these email to determine whether they contain classified information, as well as to assess their importance to our investigation.” – October 28, 2016.

October 24, the WSJ revealed that “Clinton friend [Virginia Governor] Terry McAuliffe donated money to a [senior] FBI investigator’s wife when she ran for office”.

James Brien Comey Jr. is an American lawyer who served as the seventh Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from September 2013 until May 2017

The Hillary “donation” received by Dr. Jill McCabe was not reported. According to official Virginia State records she declared a total of $256,000 dollars in campaign contributions.

What seems to be unfolding is a division between competing media conglomerates, with Murdoch’s News Corp Group (which includes the WSJ and Fox News) supporting Trump and the Time Warner-CNN Group supporting Clinton. In turn, these media conglomerates are aligned with powerful and competing factions within the corporate establishment.

The Clinton Campaign responded by accusing FBI Director James Comey of breaking the law.

June 1, 2017; The Inkatha Freedom Party in Nquthu expresses its concern after the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs started taking back goods delivered in Nquthu during the municipal by-election campaign recently.

“The people of Nquthu are experiencing tough times as the service that was delivered by the government when it was campaigning for the ANC before the by-election is now being taken back.

“We had the entire KZN Cabinet and even National Ministers visiting this municipality delivering all sorts goods in every ward during their campaign.

“Goods such as garden fencing and Jojo tanks to assist in water crisis are now being taken back by the department. You cannot dish food to those who are hungry and take it away because the ANC failed dismally to win the municipality.

“The actions of COGTA clearly prove that state resources were used to campaign for the ANC. The people of Nquthu must be made aware that these resources were brought here in the name of government and not the ANC,” said the IFP National Chairman, Mr Blessed Gwala MPL.

“The IFP calls on COGTA to return all these resources to the people since tax payer’s money was used. The people of Nquthu expressed their choice at the ballot box and voted for the IFP to govern the municipality.

“As the majority party in Nquthu, the IFP will bring clean governance and will provide the people with the services that they deserve,” concluded Mr Gwala

The SAFTA’s were an amazing 3-day extravaganza. We were in Sun City from Thursday to Sunday. I hosted Awards on both night’s and I also happened to be nominated under Best TV presenter. It was an honour to be nominated and I’m truly grateful for all the love and support I received from South Africans everywhere.